A RAILWAY icon will leave York this month, and to mark the occasion a special display was held last night.

Mallard, which has been on display at the National Railway Museum since last year along with its surviving sister locomotives, will be transported to Durham. The “Great Goodbye” yesterday saw the museum team up with Durham Castle for a joint display.

The art-deco style display saw the Mallard 75 logo projected on to the side of the NRM, which can be viewed from the railway tracks, and simultaneously on the side of Durham Castle.

Two of the locomotives, Dominion of Canada and Dwight D Eisenhower, have already been sent to the National Railway Museum at Shildon, and Anthony Coulls, senior curator of railway vehicles at the NRM, said this would be a good send off for the Great Gathering.

He said: “Lighting up a frosty February evening demonstrates how our Mallard 75 events showcase our collection to new audiences and turn the spotlight on to the wonder of British engineering.

“Fans don’t have long to wait before they can once again get up close to the record breaker – with the added bonus of being surrounded by sisters in steam.”

Melanie Sensicle, chief executive of Visit County Durham, said: “We are eagerly awaiting the arrival of Mallard and sisters to tell the story of high-speed travel down the East Coast Mainline and we hope that the ‘Mallard effect’ that saw a quarter of a million visitors flocking to York will create a rail boom for Durham.”

Michelle Crawford, bursar at University College, Durham Castle said: “The castle is the perfect canvas for the lighting projection. We are sure it will create intrigue and excitement around the city.

“The historic building is the venue of choice for many special events and the last ever family reunion for Mallard and sisters is a particularly special occasion which we are delighted to be involved in.”

Comments (6)

A nice logo. Perhaps the NRM should have an ongoing selection of images projected onto its external walls during the darker times of the year? It'd make passing rail users more aware that that large grey shed is, in fact, the repository of some of the world's most fascinating railway memorabilia.

A nice logo. Perhaps the NRM should have an ongoing selection of images projected onto its external walls during the darker times of the year? It'd make passing rail users more aware that that large grey shed is, in fact, the repository of some of the world's most fascinating railway memorabilia.Ignatius Lumpopo

I think you will find that at this moment Dominion of Canada and Dwight D Eisenhower are at Barrow Hill Roundhouse near Chesterfield for a gala weekend on 8th & 9th Feb called East Coast Giants. After which they will go to Shildon.

I think you will find that at this moment Dominion of Canada and Dwight D Eisenhower are at Barrow Hill Roundhouse near Chesterfield for a gala weekend on 8th & 9th Feb called East Coast Giants. After which they will go to Shildon.mil2079

GBTYZ wrote:
The question is will it ever return they are getting rid of loco's to make more room for restaurant seats and tables

lets keep count that's 1 for 2014

[quote][p][bold]GBTYZ[/bold] wrote:
The question is will it ever return they are getting rid of loco's to make more room for restaurant seats and tables[/p][/quote]lets keep count that's 1 for 2014GBTYZ

"Been on display since last year" ? I saw it at the museum when I was a kid, I even think that was the old site, and took my own kids to see it at the new location. I presume it must just move around, I can't imagine it'll be gone for long.

"Been on display since last year" ? I saw it at the museum when I was a kid, I even think that was the old site, and took my own kids to see it at the new location. I presume it must just move around, I can't imagine it'll be gone for long.Tinpot